Dubai Marathon 2027 Route: Map, Elevation, Start/Finish & Water Stations

The Dubai Marathon 2027 route is the classic Jumeirah course: flat, sea-level and fast, starting and finishing at the Dubai Police Academy on Umm Suqeim Road. The 42.195km race runs north on Al Sufouh Road to Dubai Media City, then does two loops of Jumeirah Beach Road past the Burj Al Arab before finishing at the Academy grandstand. The race is on Sunday 17 January 2027, with the elite marathon starting at 5:45am, the mass start at 6:30am, the 10km at 8:00am and the 4km fun run at 10:00am. One important note: the official 2027 route map has not yet been published on dubaimarathon.org — the course described here is the established, confirmed course from the most recent edition, which the organisers have kept unchanged for 2027. Check the official site in race week for the final map.

Do not use last year’s date: the 2026 edition was held on Sunday 1 February 2026. The 2027 race has moved earlier, to 17 January 2027. If a calendar, training plan or travel booking still shows February, it is out of date.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Route at a Glance

Dubai Marathon 2027 Route & Course

The Dubai Marathon 2027 route is one of the fastest marathon courses in the world — the men’s course record is 2:03:34 — because it is almost perfectly flat and runs on wide, well-surfaced coastal roads. The Dubai Marathon 2027 course is an out-and-back plus a double loop: it starts on Al Taryam Road near the Dubai Police Academy, heads north on Al Sufouh Road towards Dubai Media City, turns back south past Madinat Jumeirah onto Jumeirah Beach Road, and then completes two full loops on Jumeirah Beach Road past the Burj Al Arab before finishing inside the Dubai Police Academy grounds. The full Dubai Marathon 2027 guide covers registration, fees, bib collection and prizes; this page is the route in detail.

Dubai Marathon Route Map

The Dubai Marathon route map for 2027 has not yet been published on the official site — the race’s own listings say full information, including the route maps, will be available on dubaimarathon.org in the days before the race. Until then, the course below is the established route from the most recent confirmed edition, which the 2027 race follows: the same start, the same Al Sufouh out-and-back, and the same two loops of Jumeirah Beach Road. The official 2026 route map is labelled “TWO LAPS OF JUMEIRAH BEACH ROAD SECTION”, and every 2027 race listing repeats the same course description. Check dubaimarathon.org in January for the final published map and the 10km and 4km turnarounds.

Where Does Dubai Marathon Start and Finish?

Where does the Dubai Marathon start and finish? Both at the Dubai Police Academy on Umm Suqeim Road. The start is on Al Taryam Road beside the Academy, and the finish is inside the Academy grounds on the parade ground, in front of the grandstand — a looped course, so spectators can watch the start and then walk a short distance to the finish. The start address used by race listings is “the main square, Dubai Police Academy, Dubai”. Expect to walk the last stretch: the roads around the Academy close hours before the start, and there is no parking near the route on race morning.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Course: Turn by Turn

The Dubai Marathon 2027 course, kilometre by kilometre, from the official course description:

1. Start — Al Taryam Road (0km). The gun goes on Al Taryam Road near the boundary of the Dubai Police Academy. Turn right and head up onto Al Sufouh Road.
2. Al Sufouh Road north (0–6km). Run north on the left-hand carriageway of Al Sufouh Road, past Dubai College Junction and the entrance to Palm Jumeirah on the other side of the road.
3. U-turn at Dubai Media City (about 6km). Turn at the Dubai Media City entrance, opposite the Royal Mirage Hotel, and head back south along Al Sufouh Road.
4. Back south past Madinat Jumeirah (6–12km). Run past Al Qasr Hotel and Madinat Jumeirah, then turn onto Jumeirah Beach Road.
5. Jumeirah Beach Road south (12–21km). Run past the Burj Al Arab, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Marsa Al Arab, always on the left-hand carriageway, heading towards the bridge at the Creek.
6. U-turn before the Creek bridge (about 21km). Turn just after the Al Mehemal Road junction, before the bridge, and head back along Jumeirah Beach Road towards the Burj Al Arab junction.
7. Second Jumeirah Beach Road loop (21–41km). U-turn at the Burj Al Arab junction and run the same Jumeirah Beach Road section a second time — past the Union Flag, the Grand Mosque and the old Jumeirah Beach Park — then turn again and repeat the loop.
8. Final stretch — Umm Suqeim Road (41–42.195km). After the second loop, run past the Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah junctions, turn left onto Al Taryam Road, then left and right into the Police Academy, along the boundary road and into the parade ground for the finish in front of the Academy grandstand.

The named turns on the official route map are the Sunset Mall start area, the Souk Madinat Jumeirah turn, the Westin Hotel turn, and the Jumeirah turns for lap 1 and lap 2. The Burj Al Arab appears on the course several times across both loops — it is the landmark you will see most, and the one spectators use to find the race.

Is Dubai Marathon Course Flat?

Yes — the Dubai Marathon course is famously flat. Is Dubai Marathon course flat enough for a personal best? It is one of the flattest marathon courses in the world: a sea-level coastal road with no hills, no bridges of any note and no sharp turns. That is why it is marketed as the Middle East’s fastest marathon, why it is a World Athletics Gold Label race and a Boston qualifier, and why so many debut winners have run breakthrough times here. The only “climbs” are the gentle camber of a coastal road and the U-turns, which cost a few seconds each but no elevation.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Elevation

Dubai Marathon 2027 elevation is effectively zero: the course sits at sea level along the Jumeirah coast, with a maximum elevation difference of around 4 metres across the whole 42.195km and an average slope of 0.0%. Independent course data lists 0 metres of uphill and 0 metres of downhill for the full marathon. There is no elevation profile worth studying — what matters instead is pace discipline and hydration on long, straight, largely shadeless stretches of Jumeirah Beach Road. The January start helps: expect 10–15°C at the 5:45–6:30am start, rising through the morning, with a light sea breeze and strong sun by 9:00–10:00am.

Dubai Marathon 2027 10K Route

The Dubai Marathon 2027 10K route follows the first section of the marathon course: out from the Police Academy start, north on Al Sufouh Road and onto Jumeirah Beach Road, with a turnaround that brings 10km runners back to the same finish at the Academy grandstand. It is flat, fully closed to traffic and chipped for an official time, with the same coastal views and the same finish-line atmosphere as the marathon. The 10km starts at 8:00am — after the marathon field has gone, so the start area is calmer — and is open to runners aged 15 and over. The start and finish of the marathon and 10km take place on Umm Suqeim Road, opposite Madinat Jumeirah, with the Burj Al Arab as the backdrop. Expected, not yet confirmed: the official 2027 10km route map has not been published, so the exact turnaround point is yet to be confirmed — the description above is the established 10km course from the most recent edition. The 10km costs $85 (about AED 312); see the Dubai Marathon 2027 guide for registration and the 10km entry details.

Dubai Marathon 2027 4K Fun Run Route

The Dubai Marathon 2027 4K fun run route is a short out-and-back near the start/finish area: the 4km race begins on Al Sufouh Road and finishes at the Dubai Police Academy, on a flat, traffic-closed stretch close to the start. It starts at 10:00am, costs $50 (about AED 184) and is open to all ages — children included — making it the family option. Fun-run finishers cross the same finish line at the Academy grandstand as the marathoners, so families can watch the marathon finish and then run the 4km themselves. Expected, not yet confirmed: the official 2027 4km route map has not been published, so the exact 4km turnaround is yet to be confirmed — the description above is the established fun-run course from the most recent edition.

Dubai Marathon Water Stations & Aid Stations

Hydration is the one thing the flat course cannot help you with: the second half of the race runs in warming sun on an exposed coastal road, so the water stations are the backbone of your race plan. The good news is that they are frequent — you never run more than about 15 minutes without a drink.

Dubai Marathon Water Stations

Dubai Marathon water stations are placed every 2.5km from 5km to 40km — at 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5, 20, 22.5, 25, 27.5, 30, 32.5, 35, 37.5 and 40km. Sports drink (Pocari Sweat) is available at 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35km, and sponges are handed out just after the stations. Take water at every station even if you feel fine — by the time you feel thirsty on a sunny coastal course, you are already behind on fluids. Practise drinking on the run in training, and rehearse your fuelling at the race’s 2.5km rhythm so race morning holds no surprises.

Yet to be confirmed for 2027: the exact station list above is the established pattern from the most recent edition. One 2027 race guide lists electrolyte drinks at 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40km instead of 10–35km, so treat the sports-drink positions as expected until the organisers publish the final 2027 runner instructions. The water-every-2.5km pattern itself is consistent across all sources.

Aid Stations

Aid stations — medical points, toilets and support — sit alongside the water stations. Medical staff and ambulances are stationed about 200 metres after every main drink station, with medical cover at the finish as well. Toilet facilities are positioned at the drink stations, so plan your stops around them rather than hoping for facilities elsewhere on the course. If you are struggling, stop at a medical point: the six-hour cut-off is generous, and the medical teams can assess you properly. Bag drop is available on race morning for marathon and 10km runners near the start area — label your bag clearly with your bib number.

When Is the Dubai Marathon 2027? Date, Time & Schedule

When is the Dubai Marathon 2027? Sunday 17 January 2027. The Dubai Marathon 2027 date and time in short: the elite marathon starts at 5:45am, the mass marathon at 6:30am, the 10km at 8:00am and the 4km fun run at 10:00am. All three races start and finish at the Dubai Police Academy, Umm Suqeim Road. The Dubai Marathon 2027 schedule is a single race morning, with a four-day bib-collection window before it — collect your bib at The Agenda, Dubai Media City, between Wednesday 13 and Saturday 16 January, because there is no race-day pickup.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Date and Time

The Dubai Marathon 2027 date and time: Sunday 17 January 2027, elite marathon 5:45am, mass marathon 6:30am, 10km 8:00am, 4km fun run 10:00am. The 2026 edition was held on Sunday 1 February 2026 — the 2027 race has moved earlier, so do not rely on last year’s date. Registration is open now at dubaimarathon.org, first-come first-served, with no lottery and no announced closing date.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Schedule

Dubai Marathon 2027 Cut Off Time

The Dubai Marathon 2027 cut off time is 6 hours for the full marathon, counted from the mass start. That means a 6:30am starter must finish by 12:30pm. Six hours works out at about 8:32 per kilometre, so walkers and first-timers with a run-walk plan can finish inside the limit. After six hours, police and medical support on the course conclude, and later finishers may need to complete the final section on the footpaths. The 10km and 4km have no published cut-off. If you are chasing a Boston qualifier, the flat course and cool January start make Dubai one of the better places in the world to attempt it — full details are in the Dubai Marathon 2027 guide.

How to Watch Dubai Marathon: Spectators, Road Closures & Hotels

You do not need to run to be part of the Dubai Marathon. The course runs entirely on public roads along the Jumeirah coast, so spectating is free, unticketed and open to everyone — with 20,000 runners and a beachfront setting, it is one of the best free sporting days out in Dubai.

How to Watch Dubai Marathon

How to watch the Dubai Marathon: just turn up. There are no tickets, no enclosures and no reserved viewing areas — the course runs on public roads, and you can watch from anywhere along it. Get there early: roads close from around 1:00am, so arrive on foot from a nearby drop-off point rather than expecting to drive to the kerb. Bring water, sun protection and a charged phone; the mass field streams through for hours after the leaders pass. If you are coming with family, the finish area at the Police Academy grandstand has the best atmosphere, while the beachfront stretches are the most scenic.

Where to Watch Dubai Marathon

Where to watch the Dubai Marathon? The best spots are the Jumeirah Beach Road stretch, where the leaders pass twice (once on each loop), so a single position gives you the front runners more than once without moving; the Burj Al Arab junction, where the course turns with the hotel as a backdrop; and the finish at the Dubai Police Academy grandstand, where the atmosphere peaks. Other good spots are the Madinat Jumeirah junction on Umm Suqeim Road, where the course turns onto Jumeirah Beach Road, and the Dubai Media City turn on Al Sufouh Road, where the marathon field passes in both directions early in the race.

Is Dubai Marathon Free to Watch?

Yes — is Dubai Marathon free to watch? Spectating is completely free. There are no tickets and no charge to stand anywhere along the public-road course. The only paid part of the event is running in it: $150 for the marathon, $85 for the 10km and $50 for the 4km fun run. If you want a free running event instead, our Dubai Run guide covers the city’s big free November fun run down Sheikh Zayed Road, part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Road Closures

Dubai Marathon 2027 road closures affect Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Sufouh Road, closed from around 1:00am on Sunday 17 January until the field has passed through, reopening in stages as the last runners clear each section. Umm Suqeim Road around the Police Academy is also closed or restricted. If you are not running, avoid driving near Jumeirah, Umm Suqeim or Al Sufouh on race morning: use the Metro to Mall of the Emirates or Dubai Internet City and walk or take a taxi from there. The RTA publishes the final closure map and timings in race week — check it before you travel. Expected: the exact 2027 closure times have not been published yet; the 1:00am start and phased reopening are the established pattern from the most recent edition.

Dubai Marathon 2027 Hotels Near Start

Dubai Marathon 2027 hotels near the start are concentrated in three areas: Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah (closest to the Police Academy start, along Jumeirah Beach Road — the beach hotels on the course itself, though their access roads close on race morning, so you walk to the start); Al Barsha and Dubai Media City (a 10–15 minute drive, and handy for bib collection at The Agenda — the Mercure Al Barsha is a popular race-week base, close to the Mall of the Emirates Metro station); and Dubai Marina and JLT (a short taxi ride, with the most choice and the nearest Metro stations). Book early — January is peak season in Dubai and hotels near the start sell out. Staying in Al Barsha or Media City is the practical sweet spot: close to bib collection, close to the start, and far enough from the closed roads that your race-morning taxi can actually move.

Related: once you know the course, sort your race pack — our Dubai Marathon 2027 bib collection guide covers the expo, timings and third-party pickup.

Last updated: 8 November 2026